The route passes Nuneaton, Atherstone, Birmingham, Warwick and Leamington, and we’re collecting donations for The Matt Hampson Foundation along the way. Matt, as I am sure a lot of you are aware, was paralysed from the neck down after an accident during an England U21 training session in 2005 and breathes via a ventilator.
But rather than feel sorry for himself, Matt focused on the things that he still could do and decided to get busy living whilst helping other young people seriously injured through sport. Having spent a lifetime walking from scrum to scrum, 100 miles shouldn’t be a problem even with a few pub visits on the way! It would be great if you would like to join me and a few other ex-Tigers players en route.
Nuneaton, one of the first stopping points, was the starting point for me as a senior rugby player. But it was by accident that I got into the sport in the first place really. I used to be a footballer at a local club in Coventry called Folly Lane, as a stocky centre forward. But one day our game got called off and as I was walking home a minibus full of rugby lads who I knew pulled over and asked me if I fancied a game.
Because I had all my kit with me, I said, ‘go on, then’ and I played for Coventry Saracens against Barker Butts, who were a very good team. They threw me in at prop, aged 16, and I got absolutely annihilated by what turned out to be the entire Warwickshire front row. Afterwards, the bloke I was playing opposite walked across and I thought, ‘here we go, he is going to stick one on me’. But, instead, we shook hands and went and had a few beers and I never played football again.
Esta historia es de la edición June 18, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición June 18, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
